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David Ortiz may have made baseball history yesterday when he received first a standing ovation and then a curtain call for a bunt single.

The slow-footed slugger beat the Yankees’ defensive shift in the sixth inning when he unexpectedly pushed the ball down the third base line to an unoccupied swath of grass.

He reached safely, was pulled for a pinch runner, and the ovation started. Ortiz tipped his helmet before ducking into the dugout. When the cheers grew louder, Ortiz emerged and saluted the crowd.

Helped by the surprise small ball, the Red Sox beat the Yankees, 8-4, before a crowd of 37,453 at Fenway Park. The victory left the Red Sox 89-73 and dropped the 95-67 Yankees into the American League wild card. They will open the playoffs Wednesday in Minnesota.

Jed Lowrie homered twice and drove in three runs while John Lackey (14-11) allowed two earned runs over 7 2/3 strong innings. He matched his season high with 10 strikeouts.

Lackey, who had a disappointing first season in Boston, allowed only five earned runs over his final 20 2/3 innings.

“A learning experience,’’ he said of his season. “It was definitely up and down. I like some of the new tools I’ve added this year with [pitching coach] John Farrell. Moving forward is going to be good.’’

Lowrie returned from injury and illness to hit .287 with 23 extra-base hits and 24 RBIs over 55 games.

“I’m happy with the way I played this year and the way my body responded,’’ he said.

Ortiz was 3 for 3 and finished the season at .270 with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs. He didn’t stick around after the game.

“Papi had a great year,’’ general manager Theo Epstein said. “He put up terrific numbers, just about everything you can ask for from your designated hitter.’’

Epstein said the team would wait until the deadline three days after the World Series before deciding whether to pick up Ortiz’s $12.5 million 2011 option.

GM’s corner

Epstein said his priorities would be to fix the bullpen and retaining “some’’ of the team’s free agents.

Regarding Jacoby Ellsbury, Epstein said the team expects the outfielder to be an everyday player again and, “a significant part of the team.’’

He repeated his belief that Josh Beckett would devote himself to improving after posting a 5.78 ERA in 21 starts. “He’s going to fix it in the winter,’’ Epstein said.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon, who had a career-worst 3.90 ERA, still has Epstein’s confidence.

“Pap didn’t have the year this year that he traditionally puts up,’’ Epstein said. “He’s still a really good closer. He’s still going to help us win games. He’s got a little work to do to get back to that elite level.’’

Calling it a career

Mike Lowell spent his last day as a major league player on the bench. After getting two hits in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, he decided to end his career on that note.

“It’s a little strange, but I’m very happy,’’ he said as he walked around the clubhouse, stopping to sign jerseys and balls for teammates.

Lowell’s first game was Sept. 13, 1998, in New York. He was called up five days earlier when the Yankees were at Fenway.

“I remember Pedro [Martinez] pitched for the Red Sox and we beat him and then the next day we clinched the division and everybody celebrated,’’ Lowell said. “Everybody was pouring champagne and I just sort of watched. I had just got there.’’

Lowell played in eight games for the Yankees that September then was traded to the Marlins after the Yankees signed Scott Brosius to an extension.

“It all worked out for me,’’ Lowell said.

Late-night heroics

In a 10-inning game that did not end until 1:22 a.m. yesterday morning, two unlikely players drove in important runs to help the Red Sox beat the Yankees, 7-6, in the second game of a doubleheader.

Kevin Cash, who did not have an RBI in 57 previous at-bats, came to the plate with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and saw 11 pitches before drawing a walk to force in the tying run.

“He had a really good at-bat,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “Good for him. He hasn’t played much the last month but he’s always energetic and trying to help and helped us win a game.’’

Cash had not driven in a run in a major league game since June 13 when he was with Houston. “That was the longest at-bat I’ve ever had,’’ Cash said. “It was good, it worked out well. Big RBI any time against the Yankees is good.’’

In the 10th, Bill Hall hit a double to center, Cash bunted him to third, and Eric Patterson singled to center. His teammates chased him into the outfield to celebrate.

“Once I hit it, I knew they were coming. I was contemplating making them chase me around the field, but it was a long day,’’ Patterson said. “Everyone needed to get out of here. It was a lot of fun.’’

Rookie robbery

Rookie Ryan Kalish stole home on the back end of a double steal in the sixth inning. It was the first steal of home by a Red Sox player since Ellsbury’s straight steal of home against the Yankees April 26, 2009. The last steal of home as part of a double steal was by Donnie Sadler in 1999 . . . Adrian Beltre, who left the team Friday, arrived in California in time to see his daughter born later that night . . . After the second inning, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday’’ to team legend Johnny Pesky, who was presented with a cake shaped like Fenway. He turned 91 Sept. 27 . . . The Sox finished 46-35 at home, their fewest wins at Fenway since winning 42 in 2002 . . . The Red Sox and Yankees split 18 games, with the Yankees scoring 10 more runs. The series is 27-27 over the last three years . . . Francona has asked the club to reconfigure his office so he has more direct access to the coaches’ room across the hall . . . The Sox had a home attendance of 3,046,444.